Ladakh

A travel handbook claims,” The journey from Srinagar to Leh should be one of the most fascinating street journeys in the world…” The writer is undoubtedly not far off the track, and those that have experienced this trek, can attest to your fact that there is no substitute to this breathtaking journey around the high roads.

If you ignore the threats of militant attacks, it is possible to drive safely from Srinagar to Sonmarg, en route to Leh. The 80kms stretch of land-3000mts over sea-level-is blessed with beautiful beauty and gracious folks, permitting everyone to perceive its irresistible attraction. It is no wonder, nature’s extravagance might be seen touching the skies.

Starting Level from the Journey
The take-off stage is Srinagar-a title that sets most people’s imaginations racing – and one progresses by criss-crossing the Pari Mahal, Dal Lake, Chashma Shahi as well as the deep green rice fields amidst the fragrance of a million flowers.

Ladhak Enjoys Its Pristine Elegance Since The Rule OF Mughal Emperors Akbar, the excellent Mughal emperor, regarded as this location to be his “private garden” exactly where the roses alone introduced in an annual revenue of Rs. 1,00,000.

Emperor Jehangir travelled miles to enjoy the elegance spots suggested to him. He was often accompanied by Ustad Mansur, the artist. A difficult time for poor Mansur but he is stated to possess ready sketches of no much less than a hundred diverse flowers. The wise Mughal counseled website visitors to not cling to your town of Srinagar and its environs. He wrote, “One really should stay some days in these areas and go about them so as to take pleasure in one self completely.”

Major Sights

Sonmarg – The Route of Gold
Some eighty km of driving from Srinagar, all vacationers en route to Leh cease to brace on their own within the clean mountain air on the undulating grassy plain of Sonmarg (the route of gold), a landscape of epic proportions, and one too elemental to become spoiled even by the bus-loads of men and women trudging single file in excess of the greens.

In the pleasing cool local weather one can enjoy the massive patchwork of colors from that with the searing saffron to willow tendrils of pale green, fir and birch.

Sonmarg is the final main town in Kashmir, an perfect location to travel and create a base camp to discover the quite a few higher altitude lakes like Vishansar, Kishansar, Gadsar, Rehmansar, and other people. Even inside the meadows of Sonmarg, one can appreciate the small springs and glaciers.

A Drive From Sonmarg To Drass
Ladakh Driving from Sonmarg to Drass (the subsequent level of curiosity) assessments the mettle with the driver too as the automobile since the dizzy heights can normally induce a mysterious thrill because the automobile meanders by way of the 25km Zogilla pass (3539 meters). It really is the first among three passes, marking the boundary between colourful Kashmir and also the mountains of Ladakh. Zogilla is historically of good curiosity as well. A tank was employed for the initial time at this kind of a fantastic height right here, throughout a main battle in 1948. From Zogilla, the street glides to Minamarg meadow, resplendent with Alpine flora and from there on to the very first village – Drass. It really is possibly the coldest place after Siberia, exactly where the temperature plunges as minimal as -50 degrees centigrade and snow can accumulate as much as ten feet superior.

On the other hand, there’s no need to become worried concerning the vagaries of nature right here; the sun is there to shine in all its glory, plus the blazing sunlight does make items quite pleasant if not glorious.

Drass is inhabited by Muslims, belonging for the Dard neighborhood. The village remains sleepy, cold and immobilized to get a quarter of the 12 months throughout winter. But as soon as barely cultivation begins issues alter dramatically.

The tourist potential from the location is progressively becoming tapped and people are setting up tiny retailers and accommodations during the tourist season.Surprisingly, homes listed here are flat-roofed rather than sloped as is the situation with other hilly areas going through snowfall.

The Drass mosque is an uncommon one, crafted with metallic domes that glitter within the sun. Four historical idols to the substantial way, close to RDAs, have puzzled inhabitants and vacationers alike. These life-sized statues can hardly be identified, as they have weathered with time, standing as silent sentinels to witness the passage and progress of mankind given that antiquity.

Travel along the Drass River, one passes Kharbu and ultimately reaches Khargil to the banks of river, Suru. The street bears silent testimony to human efforts to reduce deep-water channels to the granite slopes, making terraces of nurtured soil and organizing fields for plantation and orchards.

Khargil — A Significent Terminal of Srinagar-Leh Highway Visitors prefer this location for evening halts as you will find numerous accommodations and for those enthusiastic about mountaineering, expeditions to Nun and Kun might be organized. This serves as an ideal base camp. Khargil is pre dominantly a Muslim settlement with cobbled streets and narrow lanes. You will find two fascinating mosques exhibiting Turkish influences. Khargil gives way to Wakha Rong Valley right after crossing the Suru and also the adjacent tableland.

Mulbek – Attractions of Lime Stone Masses An hour’s drive through Wakha brings us to a landscape characterized by lime stone masses – Mulbek. This will be the 1st Buddhist region. Around the roadside, 1 encounters the imposing rock-cut statue in the meditative Buddha with 4 arms, or the Maitreya (the future Buddha), belonging on the 8th century.

Mulbek Gumpha – Not far from this spot is the Mulbek Gumpha which presents a breathtaking view on the really pinnacle of a crag, 200 meters above the principal road.

From Mulbek, the street leaves the Wakha valley and crosses the Namika La (a pass of 3,700 meters).

Fotu La Pass – Following tracing a short zigzag route down the mountain, one encounters another pass among the landscape. This can be Fotu La, the highest among the three passes at a height of 4093 meters. From this pass the road meanders down to Lamayaru, the oldest website of Ladakh, providing a majestic watch of its rock formations and large mountains.

Khalsi – The Heart of Ladakh – The street as soon as again contours steeply, encountering quite a few bends and curves. One last but not least reaches Khalsi, the heart of Ladakh exactly where enormous prayer flags flutter inside the air. Not far from Khalsi is Alchi, noted for its splendid wall paintings and iconography that reflects the Tantric tenets that crept into Buddhism later. Alchi leads the way to Likhir and as a final point towards the village of Nimu, exactly where 1 can keep track of the river Indus and its tributary – the Zanskar river.

Spituk Monastery – Following climbing another plateau, one will get the 1st see of Leh, even now 30km off. The last stopover may be Spituk around the banks of Indus. Spituk provides a monastery made in a series of tiers with courtyards and actions. The Spituk complex consists of the Mahakel temple, containing the pictures of Vajrabhairava, resembling the Goddess Kali which is unveiled as soon as a 12 months.

Far more and additional military vehicles and depots are to be noticed right here these days. Since the inflow of vacationers is minimal, Ladakhis are seen more typically in their funds, Leh, the crucible of Ladakh.

However, it will not be long just before the company of tourism takes through this tiny group. Until then, here’s nothing to stop you from travelling and enjoying the unspoilt attractiveness of Ladakh area.